New show for MA
The MA's acquisition of the Pub Business show is a boon for licensees as it will broaden the event's appeal, inspire business growth and help increase profits
You read the print version each week, you scan the online version every day to get ahead of the news, and from next year, you will be able to visit the MA's very own show.
The MA has just acquired Pub Business, a move that both strengthens its portfolio
and increases the range of services it offers to licensees.
With the strapline "All about pubs, only about pubs", the show covers every angle of a licensee's business to help increase profits.
It is the only pub exhibition at Birmingham's NEC, located in central England for easy access. The 2007 event is being organised by Mike Sherrard, who launched the event last year - Sherrard is now the MA's business development director (BDD).
Explaining the rationale behind the acquisition of Pub Business, Russell Dodd, publishing director of the MA, says: "We've been looking to move into the pub sector exhibitions market for some time and feel that Pub Business is the perfect vehicle.
"Aimed squarely at the business side of running pubs profitably, we think it's got the right formula, while its central location at the NEC means it's held in the right place. What's more, with Mike's phenomenal energy, creativity and track record, we're sure that we've got the right person running it."
The show takes place on 1 and 2 May 2007, just two months before the smoking ban comes into effect, and in the general run-up to autumn's rugby World Cup. It is split into six clearly defined sections, which together, cover every angle of a pub's business:
l Pubcos arena: for pubcos and regional brewers to host their own events and show their tenants and licensees how they can grow their businesses, sell more beer and increase turnover. Last year, Punch, Admiral Taverns and Union Pub Co estates attended. This year, more pubcos are getting involved.
l Food & drink: covering everything that is eaten or drunk in a pub, such as beer, wine, spirits, soft-drinks, coffee, cocktails, foodservice companies, ready-made meals, bar snacks and catering equipment.
l Entertainment: covering indoor and outdoor pub entertainment, such as sound systems, video and plasma equipment, indoor and outdoor play, pub gaming machines,
karaoke and lighting.
l Design: everything from pub design consultancies to furniture, interior finishings, tables, glassware, uniforms, and cutlery.
l Management: all the lowdown on what a pub needs to ensure that it is managed securely, profitably and efficiently, covering bar systems, cash and till systems, EPoS, bar equipment, cleaning/waste management, stock control, recruitment and training.
l Great outdoors - all the products needed to equip pub gardens and patios.
Leicestershire brewer Everards attended last year's event and is already gearing up for next year's show. David Bremner, the company's head of marketing, says: "We have long wanted a pub event based in the Midlands, and Pub Business 2006 filled that void. The acquisition of the event by the MA will ensure that it now becomes the only truly national show for the pub industry, and we look forward to being an integral part of its success."
Last year's popular Fish Kitchen will also exhibit again at the 2007 event. Hosted once again by M&J Seafood, the Kitchen holds continuous demonstrations and offers tips and recipe ideas for pubs. With fish and seafood accounting for 18% of meals when eating out - compared to just 8% of meals eaten at home - it is fair to say that pubgoing diners are a willing and captive audience.
M&J Seafood sales and marketing director Ian Toal says: "M&J Seafood welcomes the news of the MA's acquisition of Pub Business. We are looking forward to running our Fish Kitchen at the 2007 event and believe the new ownership and venue will ensure that the event is well attended by the pub industry."
Admiral Taverns was also excited to learn of the acquisition. Marketing communications manager Paul Holmes says: "As the largest independent operator and owner of tenanted and leased pubs in the UK, Admiral Taverns was delighted to learn of the acquisition of Pub Business by the Morning Advertiser.
"Pub Business, with its focus on the business end of pub management, combined with the editorial power and reach of the Morning Advertiser, offers us an excellent opportunity to achieve our marketing communications objectives in 2007, and we have already committed to being at the event", he concludes.
l For more information on the show, contact Mike Sherrard on 01293 867651 or email mike.sherrard@william-reed.co.uk
